Khaberni - A recent study showed that minor changes in driving habits may be an indicator of cognitive decline and brain function in the elderly.
The study included 220 elderly individuals over the age of 65, who showed no signs of dementia at the beginning of the monitoring period. Over more than five years, researchers monitored the driving style of participants using sensors inside the cars, and also monitored their health data and brain and nervous system health data throughout the study. Special focus was given to what is called white matter lesions - areas associated with reduced blood flow and increased risk of dementia.
The results showed that participants with more noticeable changes in white matter drove their cars less often, had more difficulty adapting to changing lanes, and exhibited risky driving behaviors more frequently, including sudden braking and involvement in accidents. During the follow-up period, symptoms of cognitive impairment appeared in 17% of the participants, most of whom were later diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers also noted that elderly individuals who take blood pressure-lowering medications, especially angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, showed on average safer driving behavior, even with changes in brain structure and the nervous system.
